Please don't me ...

First of all, I'm a great Marvin Gaye fan. And I love "What's Going On". Whenever I see "best albums of all time list" (NME, Rolling Stone, Pitchfork), The spot of the top 'black' (or soul/R&B) albums is always filled with "What's Going On". So I supposed many see it as the ultimate soul album...

I don't even think it's Marvin best album. respect the message of the lyrics but musically, I personnally think "I Want You" for example is superior.

I get the same feeling with Prince too, as they always mention "Purple Rain" as his best album ...

What do you think? Is "What's Going On" the best soul/'black' album ever?

If not, what would be your choice?

I don't think the album is overrated at all. I think it is a masterpiece and lives up to what the critics say. Do I think it's Marvin's best album? No, but I do think it is a great album.

To me, this album is one of the few albums that Marvin made that will stand the test of time. The themes and topics addressed in the songs still stand true today. As long as we live, we will always have wars, money problems, enviromental issues, etc.

We all have our picks of "best soul/r&b" albums of all time. Is it mine, I would say no, but I do rank it in my top 5.

No.

daPrettyman said:

I don't think the album is overrated at all. I think it is a masterpiece and lives up to what the critics say. Do I think it's Marvin's best album? No, but I do think it is a great album.

To me, this album is one of the few albums that Marvin made that will stand the test of time. The themes and topics addressed in the songs still stand true today. As long as we live, we will always have wars, money problems, enviromental issues, etc.

We all have our picks of "best soul/r&b" albums of all time. Is it mine, I would say no, but I do rank it in my top 5.

I actually share the exact same opinion.

In the relevance of popular black music, "What's Going On" was the first album of the genre that was fully a concept album. Previously, the typical album was a mixture of commercial singles and filler songs and rarely seen as a cohesive unit. Marvin Gaye told the songs from the point of view of a Vietnam War veteran returning to the country he had been fighting for, and seeing nothing but injustice, suffering and hatred.

What made "What's Going On" distinctive is that most of the songs lead into the next. The album's stylistic use of a song cycle gave it a cohesive feel, which was very unconventional for black popular music marketing at the time. If I am not mistaken, "What's Going On" was also one of the first albums to use multi-track recording for vocals, which allowed us to hear Gaye to sing his background parts in different octaves.

The combination of the music content, the resounding critical and musical reception, relevance and timing and the techniques employed in creating "What's Going On" are the reasons why it is revered as arguably the greatest album ever created. It was the album that helped spawn musical creativity in the '70s soul scene and a lot of artists from that period used it as a template on how to make a complete album.

[Edited 2/15/12 9:49am]

MusickMan said:

In the relevance of popular black music, "What's Going On" was the first album of the genre that was fully a concept album. Previously, the typical album was a mixture of commercial singles and filler songs and rarely seen as a cohesive unit. Marvin Gaye told the songs from the point of view of a Vietnam War veteran returning to the country he had been fighting for, and seeing nothing but injustice, suffering and hatred.

What made "What's Going On" distinctive is that most of the songs lead into the next. The album's stylistic use of a song cycle gave it a cohesive feel, which was very unconventional for black popular music marketing at the time. If I am not mistaken, "What's Going On" was also one of the first albums to use multi-track recording for vocals, which allowed us to hear Gaye to sing his background parts in different octaves.

The combination of the music content, the resounding critical and musical reception, relevance and timing and the techniques employed in creating "What's Going On" are the reasons why it is revered as arguably the greatest album ever created. It was the album that helped spawn musical creativity in the '70s soul scene and a lot of artists from that period used it as a template on how to make a complete album.

[Edited 2/15/12 9:43am]

Wow! these are really interesting infos! thanx!

So, to answer you question, "What's Going On" is not overrated in how it is seen in recorded music history.

P.S. If there is another Marvin Gaye album that would challenge "What's Going On" as his greatest album, I say it would be "Let's Get It On." I like "I Want You," but for all intents and purposes it was a more lush version of "Let's Get It On."

[Edited 2/15/12 9:57am]

In comparision to the current state of music, its far from overrated. But I personally prefer his post-WGO albums up to "Here, My Dear".

Nah but as far as his material goes, Let's Get It On and Here, My Dear challenges What's Going On as his best album ever.

Hell no.

No.

Keeping it Marvin, I've read his interviews when discussing What's Going On, oddly enough he always discredits himself despite the fact he produced the album and co-wrote all the songs, he said God was the one that should've been credited saying the album was produced "under a divine purpose".

No.

I just ordered it last night. I've never heard the whole album before. I recently began delving more into Marvin's music. I really love his voice, but, I have to admit, I haven't been overly-enthused about his work. I really love the song "Let's Get In On" but I'm waiting to hear something from him that's going to move me, that will touch my soul. Haven't quite found it yet.

FrenchGuy said:

Please don't me ...

First of all, I'm a great Marvin Gaye fan. And I love "What's Going On". Whenever I see "best albums of all time list" (NME, Rolling Stone, Pitchfork), The spot of the top 'black' (or soul/R&B) albums is always filled with "What's Going On". So I supposed many see it as the ultimate soul album...

I don't even think it's Marvin best album. respect the message of the lyrics but musically, I personnally think "I Want You" for example is superior.

I get the same feeling with Prince too, as they always mention "Purple Rain" as his best album ...

What do you think? Is "What's Going On" the best soul/'black' album ever?

If not, what would be your choice?

No it's not the "best" soul album ever. If one was to say that you would have 2 ask but what about Curtis...There's A Riot Going On....Stand....Where I'm Coming From...Hot Buttered Soul... and a million others lol At the same time What's Going On could never be overrated for the simple fact that Marvin asked a simple question that was so strong, it made every one of his peers come back with an answer. And so timeless that people remember where they were the 1st time they heard it when they listen 2 it and that their kids/grandkids still look to 4 inspiration today.

^ Actually... when you think about how he said it, he wasn't asking, he was TELLING.

kitbradley said:

I just ordered it last night. I've never heard the whole album before. I recently began delving more into Marvin's music. I really love his voice, but, I have to admit, I haven't been overly-enthused about his work. I really love the song "Let's Get In On" but I'm waiting to hear something from him that's going to move me, that will touch my soul. Haven't quite found it yet.

Try these and when you do have some tissue handy 'cause tears will spill believe me.....

Distant Lover

Just To Keep You Satisfied

Inner City Blues

Flyin High In The Friendly Skies

Wholy Holy

What's Goin On

Save The Children

Come Get To This

Your Precious Love

You're All I Need To Get By

If I Should Die Tonight

After The Dance

I Want You

Come Live With Me Angel

Trouble Man

Isn't the "What's Going" album a little overrated?

nope

FrenchGuy said:

Please don't me ...

First of all, I'm a great Marvin Gaye fan. And I love "What's Going On". Whenever I see "best albums of all time list" (NME, Rolling Stone, Pitchfork), The spot of the top 'black' (or soul/R&B) albums is always filled with "What's Going On". So I supposed many see it as the ultimate soul album...

I don't even think it's Marvin best album. respect the message of the lyrics but musically, I personnally think "I Want You" for example is superior.

I get the same feeling with Prince too, as they always mention "Purple Rain" as his best album ...

What do you think? Is "What's Going On" the best soul/'black' album ever?

If not, what would be your choice?

Not only is What's Goin' On Marvin Gaye's best work, I champion it as the best popular

record ever produced, before anything by the Beatles (who I hold as the best band ever),

Wonder, Prince and the Beach Boys (ir any other pop luminaries you can think of).

All of the songs are crafted meticulously; they are slightly abstract because of their

Afro-jazzy arrangements and socio-political content but accessible because Gaye's melodic

sensibilities was hitting on all cylinders here; besides, everybody can relate to the topics

at hand here because we all know what it feels like to be a member of a group of people

in society who are marginalized.

Never before had a Black American pop musician assembled a record to not only be heard

as simply an artistic statement or aesthetic expression, but as a cultural message

about the happenings of a beloved country. In this regard, What's Goin' On serves as both

an artistic and social bellwether.

I can only listen to this album once every two or three years because of its overwhelming

aural majesty and insight; it's a heavy record and I think it should be treated as the Hebrews

treated the Urim and Thummim.

So no, I don't think What's Goin' On is overrated at all. If anything, because I hold it as the

best pop album ever written and produced, it's underrated.

kitbradley said:

I just ordered it last night. I've never heard the whole album before. I recently began delving more into Marvin's music. I really love his voice, but, I have to admit, I haven't been overly-enthused about his work. I really love the song "Let's Get In On" but I'm waiting to hear something from him that's going to move me, that will touch my soul. Haven't quite found it yet.

To me, you have to get all of his post "What's Going On" material. If you want to skip out on "In Our Lifetime," you can, but everything between "What's Going On" and "Here My Dear" is excellent. These albums really show you what a genius singer, songwriter and producer Marvin really was. You can also see how far ahead of his time as far as subject matter.

You don't even have to purchase the "expanded" editions of his albums to appreciate his genius. If you do get them, you'll appreciate him even more.

I got in2 Marvin when I was in college. I always liked the singles and radio hits, but when I went beyond those trax is when I really fell in love with his music.

duccichucka said:

FrenchGuy said:

Please don't me ...

First of all, I'm a great Marvin Gaye fan. And I love "What's Going On". Whenever I see "best albums of all time list" (NME, Rolling Stone, Pitchfork), The spot of the top 'black' (or soul/R&B) albums is always filled with "What's Going On". So I supposed many see it as the ultimate soul album...

I don't even think it's Marvin best album. respect the message of the lyrics but musically, I personnally think "I Want You" for example is superior.

I get the same feeling with Prince too, as they always mention "Purple Rain" as his best album ...

What do you think? Is "What's Going On" the best soul/'black' album ever?

If not, what would be your choice?

Not only is What's Goin' On Marvin Gaye's best work, I champion it as the best popular

record ever produced, before anything by the Beatles (who I hold as the best band ever),

Wonder, Prince and the Beach Boys (ir any other pop luminaries you can think of).

All of the songs are crafted meticulously; they are slightly abstract because of their

Afro-jazzy arrangements and socio-political content but accessible because Gaye's melodic

sensibilities was hitting on all cylinders here; besides, everybody can relate to the topics

at hand here because we all know what it feels like to be a member of a group of people

in society who are marginalized.

Never before had a Black American pop musician assembled a record to not only be heard

as simply an artistic statement or aesthetic expression, but as a cultural message

about the happenings of a beloved country. In this regard, What's Goin' On serves as both

an artistic and social bellwether.

I can only listen to this album once every two or three years because of its overwhelming

aural majesty and insight; it's a heavy record and I think it should be treated as the Hebrews

treated the Urim and Thummim.

So no, I don't think What's Goin' On is overrated at all. If anything, because I hold it as the

best pop album ever written and produced, it's underrated.

Definetly not overrated. Infact it is the most relevant album ever. It is even more relevant today than it was in the 70s.

DIE.

Timmy84 said:

Keeping it Marvin, I've read his interviews when discussing What's Going On, oddly enough he always discredits himself despite the fact he produced the album and co-wrote all the songs, he said God was the one that should've been credited saying the album was produced "under a divine purpose".

What a pretentious....

smoothcriminal12 said:

Timmy84 said:

Keeping it Marvin, I've read his interviews when discussing What's Going On, oddly enough he always discredits himself despite the fact he produced the album and co-wrote all the songs, he said God was the one that should've been credited saying the album was produced "under a divine purpose".

What a pretentious....

Alright now.

Everybody knows R. Kelly's 12 Play blows What's Going On out of the water.

Terrib3Towel said:

Everybody knows R. Kelly's 12 Play blows What's Going On out of the water.

Timmy84 said:

smoothcriminal12 said:

What a pretentious....

Alright now.

Timmy84 said:

Keeping it Marvin, I've read his interviews when discussing What's Going On, oddly enough he always discredits himself despite the fact he produced the album and co-wrote all the songs, he said God was the one that should've been credited saying the album was produced "under a divine purpose".

Easy what you say, Tony going to come in & say the illuminati told Marvin to do it

Terrib3Towel said:

Everybody knows R. Kelly's 12 Play blows What's Going On out of the water.

Yes & R. Is the Sign ''O'' Of The Times of the 90's

smoothcriminal12 said:

Timmy84 said:

Alright now.

Nah but seriously I think the only reason he said it is because when he was making it he was still struggling with Tammi Terrell's death and the rigors of show business (he was starting to use cocaine during this time) and he felt that he was never in "control" of the project though people who worked with him on the album definitely thought Marvin was in control since he produced the whole thing.